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Vasileios Vrachnos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lieutenant General

Vasileios Vrachnos
Vrachnos c. 1940
Native name
Βασίλειος Βραχνός
Bornc. 1887
Nafplio, Kingdom of Greece
Diedc. 1971
Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Allegiance
Service / branch Hellenic Army
Years of service1907–1941
1945–1948
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands1st Infantry Division
WarsBalkan Wars

World War I

Greco-Turkish War (1919–22)
World War II

Awards Order of the Redeemer
Grand Cross of the Order of George I
Order of the Phoenix
Gold Cross of Valour (twice)
War Cross (1916-17 and 1940 variant)
Medal of Military Merit
Alma materNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Other workMember of Parliament
Deputy Minister for the Interior

Vasileios Vrachnos (Greek: Βασίλειος Βραχνός; 1887–1971) was a Hellenic Army General, most notable for his leadership in the Greco-Italian War of 1940–41, and post-war conservative politician.

Biography

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He was born in Nafplio in 1887.[1] After studying law at the University of Athens, he enlisted in the Hellenic Army and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Asia Minor Campaign.

At the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War on 28 October 1940 he was Major General commanding the 1st Infantry Division, with which he played a major role in the Greek victory in the Battle of Pindus. During the Axis occupation of Greece, he was arrested and imprisoned in Italy and Germany, being released in 1945. Reinstated in the Army, he was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1946, before retiring in 1948. He was elected an MP in 1951 and 1952.

He was also briefly Deputy Minister of the Interior from 16 April to 15 December 1954 in the National Radical Union cabinet of Alexander Papagos, the former Greek commander-in-chief in 1940–41.[2]

He died in Athens in 1971.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vrachnos Vasileios". PANDEKTIS - A Digital Thesaurus of Primary Sources for Greek History and Culture. Institute for Neohellenic Research / NHRF. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ Κυβέρνησις ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΠΑΠΑΓΟΥ - Από 19.11.1952 έως 6.10.1955 (in Greek). General Secretariat of the Greek Government. Retrieved 25 January 2015.